Affirm Grasp

I love yellow Labrador puppies. Sweet, innocent faces, puppy breath and endearing countenance.  Yet they do some really gullible puppy like things. Like chewing on anything - even smelly shoes. They'll eat almost anything and have little self control. But one of the cutest things they do is chase their tail.  Has anyone ever figured that one out yet ? When a puppy chases its tail, he’s on a mission. He goes round and round and doesn’t stop to ask why or concern himself with where he's going.  It’s as if he wants to achieve something, do something. The ironic thing is that he doesn't. He just goes around and around. Not much different than us. As humans, we chase our tails, probably more often than we realize. Stressed, overwhelmed, frustrated, we can't seem to make sense of anything. We lack emotional energy and keep asking the "why" questions.  Why did this happen? Why didn't I do this instead of that?  Why did they get away with that?  ...

6 months ago, I went to the doctor for my annual physical and learned my blood pressure was up – just a little bit. For some, this isn’t something to be overly alarmed about.   After all, high blood pressure can be temporary due to an overly busy schedule or stress, which was true in my case. But for some reason, this was a wake up call. So over the last 6 months, I’ve been waking up early nearly every morning to exercise. Each day, just a little bit of exercise, a little bit more, and just a little bit of food. With God’s help, I’ve lost 4 inches around my waist, 40 pounds and my blood pressure is great. It all started with just a little bit. It amazes me how big things can happen when we pay more attention to the little bits. In my case, each one of those little bits added up to a big difference.   I feel better, I look better, and I have to shop for new clothes.   How rewarding to invest in something and have a positive return!  But unfortunately, th...

PALM TREE BLUES I love snow. Yet around this time of year, I am simply tired of winter. I long for sunshine, blue skies and warm temperatures and can't wait to see daffodils poke through the ground as blades of green grass emerge. I dream of being by the water and even though I don't live anywhere near any palm trees, just looking at pictures of them invite me to take a deep breath and relax.  Makes me want to sing the “Palm Tree Blues”. Life can move fast and life can move slow, but my life seems to be in a state of constant transition. Between losing my dad to death when I was 10, moving 3,000 miles away from home for college, then grad school, career, marriage, children, new career, divorce, new job, moving, second marriage, step-children, moving, empty nest, job change, moving, new churches, mom dying, new friends, moving, and moving. (Did I mention moving?) It makes me tired to even think of transitions! (Or packing) With all this transition experience, I’...

“Ugh...Stop...Stop the noise...that sounds terrible” my brothers said the first day I brought my clarinet home.  There were lots of whining and complaints. No applause for me that day. The first time I heard the low register of the clarinet, I knew it was the instrument for me. It wasn’t shiny or sparkling, but playing it for the first time became a special memory. Learning to play came easily to me. I just couldn't put it down.  Unfortunately, my brothers didn’t share in my enthusiasm. I admit. I probably didn’t sound great. For those who have ever heard a beginning clarinetist, you would certainly share their sentiment. However, after years of practicing and ultimately achieving professional status, I obviously improved. Turns out one of the best aspects of my playing is the very special "tone" I achieve on my instrument. As I progressed, I learned to become aware of every note and make each have a sound pleasant to the ears. What about you? Ar...

GREAT EXPECTATIONS I’ll never forget the first time I went downhill skiing.   I was 17 years old and a guy I really liked asked me to go with him so I jumped at the chance ! Apprehensive about skiing, I really liked this guy and wanted to spend time with him.   This would be our special memory. A night to remember.  Great expectations. So off we go.   No lesson.   Just my date telling me to keep my skis straight like french fries and maneuvering them into a pie shape to stop. (A very important thing by the way.) So what felt like hours later, I finally figured out how to get a ski boot on, squeeze into bindings and grab my poles. Then it was off to the bunny hill.  I didn't even seem to mind my quads or mittens burning. It was all good.  I was with the guy I liked.   And I was 17. So just a few runs off the bunny hill, he was ready for the ski lift. And the moguls. For those who are skiers, you know how ridiculous it is to ta...

Northern Michigan woods  Snow. Pure. Snow. There is something special about fresh fallen snow. Add the trees and sun and well, it's just something indescribable. Light, beautiful, gracious, unique snowflakes. Glistening, romantic, pure. Having spent a dozen years of my life in Northern Michigan, I have come to love snow. Inches and inches of snow. Sometimes so much in a day that you take a couple of steps, look back at your footprints and the snow has already filled your tracks.  There's also some great winter sports to enjoy.  Downhill skiing, hockey, ice skating, building snowmen,, snowball fights,  and my favorite, cross country skiing.  There's just something special about skiing in the woods in the winter.  Great exercise, great memories. Yet not everyone likes snow.  I get it.  It's not much fun to drive in.  I recall drives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where all you could see...